Gogoi admits corruption, says efforts on to correct the system

Guwahati, Nov 10 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi Saturday admitted that there was corruption in almost every department of his government and stressed on correcting the system.

The three-time Assam chief minister was addressing a press conference in his office in state capital Dispur Saturday.

"I have never said that there is no corruption. There are corruptions in almost all the departments. We need to check the system to stop corruption," said Gogoi, while adding that his government is stressing e-governance, RTI Act, decentralization of power and peoples empowerment to check corruption.

On asked about the movement of India Against Corruption (IAC), Gogoi said that he supports any movement against corruption but not the one being undertaken by the IAC.

"The IAC's movement against corruption is also supported by corrupt people," said the chief minister, while adding that such movement led by individual groups is also politically motivated.

Gogoi also took a shot at the recent public rally in Guwahati participated by anti-graft leader Anna Hazare and said that the organisers must monitor who is funding the events - whether they are also corrupt businessmen.

"Newspaper reports say that about 20,000 people participated in the rally organised by Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS). I have nothing to say if the farmers came on their own for the rally. If they came on their own, it implies that the conditions of the farmers are really good in Assam," Gogoi quipped.

He said while Akhil Gogoi (leader of the KMSS) is trying to help the farmers of the state through movement, the government is doing that by adopting farmer friendly policies.

"These policies have also reduced inequalities among the people in the state," he said.

Gogoi pointed out that the state had achieved a growth rate (Gross State Domestic Product) of 8.42 percent in last ten years, which is also higher than the country's overall growth rate - 6.88 percent.

The chief minister also said that his government is mooting to launch a state nutrition mission to tackle the problems of anaemia and malnutrition, found among the women and children of Assam.

"It is not that the condition has not improved in Assam regarding anaemia and malnutrition. But we are still lagging behind compared to all-India average. We are planning to launch a state nutrition mission soon, where women and children will be the thrust area," said Gogoi, while adding that the government has decided to tie up with UNICEF for implementing the proposed mission.